The British - what do you call this thing...

that the British have between elections to show they approve of their prime minister or government? It's not the same as an election. I just can't think of what it's called. We need to have one of those thingies for Obama...

8. There isn't such a thing, strictly speaking

There can be a motion of no confidence, which can force a vote in the Commons; the vote on the Queen's Speech is a vote of confidence (the Queen's Speech sets out the government's legislative programme for the coming session of parliament) as is any vote on supply (continued allocation of funding). Any government which has lost confidence or supply cannot continue; the result of a vote of no confidence is new elections.

The American system is presidential and not parliamentary; a vote of confidence in the American system would make no sense (and a Democratic president facing a House of Representatives controlled by a highly partisan and obstructionist Republican Party could not expect to survive such a vote anyway).

10. You might be thinking of a Snap Election.

The prime minister, when he/she has a slim majority, but thinks that they are riding a wave of popularity, can call for a new election to increase the number of seats they have, and consolidated their majority.